Collapsible box.



No. 696,451. Patnted' Apr. I, |9102 H. H. KINSEY.

'COLLAPSIBL BOX.

(Application filed June 11, 1901.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-@Sheet I.

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A770 EYS No. 696,45I. Patented Apr. l, |902.

H. H. KINSEY.

GULILAPSIBLE BOX.

(Application led June 11,'1901.)

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HENRY II. IKINSEY, OF SEIOSHONE, IDAHO, ASSIGNOR OF ONF-THIRD TO MAIISSA TUSLER, OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA.

COLLAPSIBLE BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent 1\T o. 696,451, dated April 1, 1902. Application filed June 11,1901. Serial No. 64,102. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom, it may concern:

Beitknown that I,IIEI\IR'II.` KINSEY, a citizen ofA the United States, and a resident of Shoshone, in the county of Lincoln and State of Idaho, have invented a new and Improved Collapsible Box, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to improvements in collapsible or knockdown boxes employed for shipping purposes; and the object is to provide a box of this character that maybe folded and secured together in a compact manner for reshipment and that will be comparatively light, yet strong and rigid when in position for holding articles to be transported.

I will describe a collapsible box embodying my invention and then point out the novel features in the appended claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar charactersof reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a perspective View of a box embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a section on the line 0c oc of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a section on the line 'y y of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a section on the line .e e' of Fig. 2. Fig; 5 is an edge view showing the several members of the box as packed together, and Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view showing a means for holding the side and end members together.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the bottom of the box, and 2 the end pieces thereof, having hinged connection with the bottom, as indicated at 3, so as to swing downward closely upon the bottom when the parts are folded. The ends' of the end pieces are provided with metal plates 4,which are turned inward, as a-t 5, to provide keepers to receive the ends of the side pieces 6 and to prevent any possible movement outward ot the side pieces relatively to the end pieces when the parts are assembled in box position. Hooks 7, attached to the upper edges and at the ends oi' the side pieces, engage over the metal strips 4., as plainly indicated in Fig. G, to hold the ends securely in place. It will also be noted that the side pieces are provided at the ends with metal plates 8. These several metal plates materially strengthen the ends of the pieces and prevent the breaking thereof by coming in cont-act with hard substances.

The removable cover i) for the box has metal flanges 1() at its ends for engaging over the upper portion of the end pieces, and at one end of the cover is a metal hook 1l, de-

signed to engage with aloop 12 on one of the end pieces,aud at the opposite end of the cover is a keeper or latch designed to engage with a loop 13 on the other end piece of the box. This latch or keeper consists of Wire bent to form a hook portion 14, and the two mem# box, so that when the parts are in position they will be below the plane of the top of the box, and therefore will not interfere with the piling of one box evenly upon the top ot' another.

'Ihe bottom 1 ot the box has flanges 18, adapted to protect the ends thereof, and on the ends are secured loops 19 2O to receive the hook 11 and the hook 14 when the parts are packed together, as will be hereinafter described. To prevent any lateral movement of the side portions relatively to the top, I provide said top near its ends with downwardly-projecting staples 21, designed to engage with the sides of the side pieces.

The box may be divided into two or more compartments-by means of partitions. I have here shown the box as divided into two compartments by means of a removable partition 22, consisting of two sections, one section being provided with dowels 23 to engage in openings or holes in the other section, and the bottoms of these sections are provided with dowels 24 to engage in holes formed in the bottom of the box, as plainly indicated in Fig. 4. Attached to the top of the partition-sections are wire loops 25, designed to engage against the outer sides of the side pieces of the box. In lieu of nails or similar IOO devices for securing the metal strips to the members of the box Vv-shaped sections 26 are pressed inward from said strips and are designed to be driven into the wood of the box 5 members and clench on the under sido.

In assembling the box the end sections are swung upward and then the side members or sections are slid into place, after which the partition is to be slid into place. Then to at- Io tach cover after the case has been filled the hook 11 is to be engaged with the loop 12 and the latch engaged with the loop 13. In order to engage the latch with the loop 13, the said latchlat its inner end is swung upward, and

15 then as it swings downward its hook end will engage in the loop, and during this time the two inner members of the latch are to be forced toward each other so as to pass between the keepers 16, and when in the lower- 2o most position the said members are to be released so as to spring out underneath the keepers.

When the box is to be folded for reshipment, the end pieces are swung downward z5 against the bottom, one of the side pieces placed thereon, then the two sections of the partition are to be placed upon said side member, then the other side memberis to be placed upon said partition-sections, and finally the 3o top is to be placed into position by first engaging the hook 11 with the loop 19 and engaging the latch with the loop in a manner similar to engaging it with the loop 13.

It will be seen that a box embodyingr my in- `3f, vention may be folded in very compact form and be practically smooth or level at its lower and top sides, so that several boxes may be packed closely together.

It is obvious that my invention is adapted 4o to make crates, as well as boxes, of any size,

shape, or strength.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A box, comprising a bottom, end pieces having hinge connection therewith, loops on the upper ends of said end pieces, side pieces adapted to engage at their ends in slideways attached to the end pieces, a top, a hook at one end of said top to engage in one of the loops in an end piece, and a spring-latch at the other end of said top for engaging with the loop of the other end piece the said latch being located below the plane of the cover, substantially as specified.

2. A box, comprising a bottom, end pieces having hinge connection therewith, metal loops on the upper ends of said end pieces, side pieces, a top, a hook on one end of said top for engaging the loop of one of the end pieces, a spring-latch on the other end of said top for engaging with the loop of the other end piece the said latch being arranged below the plane ofthe top, and loops on the ends of the bottom for receiving said hook and latch, substantially as specified.

3. A box, comprising a bottom, end pieces having hinge connection therewith, side pieces, atop or cover having loops at its side edges to engage against the outer sides of the side pieces, and fastening devices for engaging the top or cover in place the said devices being below the top plane of the cover, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HENRY Il. KINSEY.

Witnesses:

MELISSA TUSLER, JOEL E. GREGORY. 

